Tick Information

Prevent bites, remove ticks safely, and protect yourself on the trail

Ticks and Lyme Disease

A hike can bring the chance of exposure to deer ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Ticks hide in shady, moist ground litter and cling to tall grass, brush, shrubs, and low tree branches. People and animals generally acquire ticks only through direct contact.

When hiking or mountain biking, take precautions to reduce exposure and check yourself, your clothing, and your gear after time outdoors.

Tick waiting on vegetation
A tick waiting on vegetation.

Preventing Tick Exposure

  • Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to see.
  • Wear long sleeves buttoned at the wrists and long pants tucked into socks. Bring a hat to protect your head.
  • Walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing against dense vegetation where ticks may hide.
  • Avoid sitting directly on the ground; use a blanket or towel.
  • Check for ticks every few hours, and more often in heavily infested areas. Visually inspect clothing and exposed skin.
  • At the end of the day, do a final full-body tick check, including under the arms, behind the knees, around the waist, and in the hair.
  • Use an EPA-registered insect repellent according to its label directions.
  • Remove any ticks as soon as you find them.

How to Remove a Tick

  1. Avoid handling ticks with bare fingers. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool; if necessary, protect your fingers with gloves or a tissue.
  2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, near the point where its mouthparts enter the skin.
  3. Pull upward and away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, jerk, crush, squeeze, or puncture the tick.
  4. If mouthparts remain in the skin and cannot be removed easily, leave them alone and let the skin heal.
  5. Dispose of the live tick in a sealed container, tape, or alcohol; do not crush it with your fingers.
  6. Clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
  7. Contact a healthcare professional if a rash develops near the bite site, if you develop symptoms after a bite, or if you find a tick after suspected exposure.
Illustration showing tick removal with tweezers
Use fine-tipped tweezers and steady, even pressure.
Do not: Use petroleum jelly, nail polish, heat, or other substances to try to make a tick detach. These methods can agitate the tick and may increase the risk of exposure to infected fluids.

Repellents

  • Clothing Repellents containing permethrin are intended for clothing and gear, not skin. Apply the product before wearing the clothing and allow it to dry completely. Follow the product label carefully.
  • Skin Use an EPA-registered skin repellent, such as one containing DEET, according to its label. Apply it to exposed skin as directed, avoiding the eyes and mouth.
  • Children Use repellents cautiously on children and follow the product label. Avoid repeated or excessive application, and keep repellents away from children’s eyes and mouth.
  • Reapplication Repellents can evaporate or wear off over time. Reapply only as often as the product label directs.
Seek medical advice if a rash develops where you removed a tick, if you develop fever or other symptoms in the weeks after a bite, or if you find a tick after believing you were exposed.

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